Sam the search and rescue dog is retiring from the Penticton Fire Hall, but will still be coming into the firehall, to “mosey around the building to check on the troops.”
Like Sam, for many of you work was more than simply a job; it provided you with an identity, direction, self-respect, motivation, personal and professional development, friendships, rewards, recognition, affirmation, and a sense of belonging.
It’s not uncommon to feel lost when you retire; suddenly, you have lots of free time and little structure. According to a June 2022 Forbes Health survey of more than 1,000 recent retirees conducted by OnePoll, 32% of respondents said they wished they’d kept working longer in their careers. Another 32% admitted they didn’t feel well prepared for the day-to-day realities of retirement.
But retiring doesn’t mean quitting and giving up what you value; it’s an opportunity to continue learning, growing, and thriving! Research continues to support the relationship between healthy aging, staying physically and socially active and feeling connected.
You have many choices for how to spend your time when you retire, including:
· Using your experience and diverse skills to train or mentor
· Working part-time or on a project basis for other employers, in different industries
· Volunteering
· Writing and blogging
· Joining or starting a club or social media group
· Taking classes, in person and online
· Taking up a new hobby
· Travelling
· Spending more time with friends and family
· Signing up at your local community center
Not sure how or where to start? Think about your answers to these questions, to gain more insight about yourself:
· What activities bring you the most joy?
· What do you like to do for fun?
· What makes you excited?
· What do you want to learn?
· What weaknesses would you like to overcome?
· How would you like to be remembered?
And take this fun test, to learn more about what motivates you:
How On Your Own Time Can Help
On Your Own Time can help you to meet many of your retirement and new goals; we’ve personally been in your situation and know the challenges of starting an exciting, confusing, and sometimes frightening, new chapter of your life. We can help ease fears and build confidence, by helping make connections, between those seeking social activities; projects; volunteer opportunities and different ways to share their experience, knowledge, and passion, with other liked-minded individuals, employers and not for profit organizations.
On Your Own Time in Action
Carolynne and a friend were having coffee, when the friend told her she wanted to update her fireplace but didn’t know who could help her. Carolynne used On Your Own Time to place a posting for someone with carpentry skills, who was interested in making some money, by building a fireplace façade. A retired gentleman with lots of DIY experience responded to the ad, met with Carolynne’s friend and the fireplace façade has been build and installed!
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